OCTAID

Background: The "tech-celeration" of digital learning has highlighted the potential of Mobile health (mHealth) applications to provide innovative, "on-the-go" medical education. However, the utilization and impact of such platforms in the field of cardiology remain understudied. Methods: This study reports on the development and real-world utilization of a suite of eight educational apps developed by the Mount Sinai Heart interventional cardiology department. These apps include GuidewireAID (a searchable library of guidewires and microcatheters), BifurcAID (algorithms for bifurcation lesions), OCTAID, CalcificAID, and others. The authors analyzed global download metrics and conducted a survey to evaluate clinician attitudes, app functionality, ease of use, and the role of digital tools in modern medical education. Results: The educational platform achieved significant global uptake, with over 50,000 downloads across more than 150 countries. Survey data revealed that over 87% of respondents rated the apps favorably (4.4/5) for their organization and functionality. A majority of participants perceived digital learning as complementary to, rather than a replacement for, traditional textbook-based resources. Furthermore, the study observed a distinct increase in the use of digital educational technologies following the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the successful global implementation of digital cardiology education platforms like GuidewireAID, reflecting a shift towards hybrid learning models in medical training. The authors highlight the need for future research to assess the long-term impact of multimedia content on knowledge retention and the importance of establishing quality standards for digital learning resources.